The Comparison of Turkish Students' PISA Achievement Levels by Year via Data Envelopment Analysis

This research aimed to determine the relative efficiency of the types of school common to three administrations of the PISA (2003-2006-2009) by comparing their results, along with the activities that are to be performed for inefficient school types and changes in the efficiency value of the school types by year. The comparative analysis was based on information obtained from student questionnaires and cognitive skills tests. Turkish students completing the PISA in 2003, 2006, and 2009 comprised the population of the survey-based study. In the study, the data obtained from the PISA tests were analyzed using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results of the study indicated that the differences in quality among high schools are still prominent. The low economic, social, and cultural index of the elementary-school-level students, and vocational high school students' inability to allocate sufficient time for study outside of school hindered these schools' efficiency, as shown in the three administrations of the PISA. Consequently, student achievement was found to vary by year, and variables to be increased or decreased for improved student success have been identified.